By Ollus Ndomu
Nearly 70,000 South Africans, primarily from the Afrikaner community, have registered interest in relocating to the United States after Washington offered refugee status to those facing what it called “unjust racial discrimination.”
The South African Chamber of Commerce in the USA (Saccusa) confirmed a surge in registrations on its website, with most applicants aged between 25 and 45 and having dependents. The development follows an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump in February, which cited concerns over South Africa’s land reform law allowing land expropriation without compensation.
Saccusa has since submitted the list of interested individuals to the US embassy in Pretoria, though it remains unclear how many will qualify for asylum under US immigration policies. The move has further strained diplomatic relations between Washington and Pretoria, especially in light of Trump’s earlier decision to cut aid to South Africa.
The South African government has strongly rejected claims of racial discrimination, defending its land reform policy as necessary to redress historical injustices. Officials have accused the US of meddling in domestic affairs and fueling political divisions.
The situation continues to develop, with analysts warning that the issue could escalate tensions between the two nations as Pretoria weighs its next steps in response to Washington’s policy shift.
